In Corozal, IT Technician Sent to the Slaughterhouse
Mark Anthony Clarke
A pair of farmers made a gruesome discovery over the weekend off the Phillip Goldson Highway in the outskirts of the village of Paraiso, Corozal. Forty-one-year-old Mark Anthony Clarke was last seen alive at a casino. It is suspected he was stabbed multiple times on his chest, abdomen and neck on Friday night and his body dumped in a remote area on the San Jomal Road. Clarke’s Honduran girlfriend is among several persons being held for questioning. News Five’s Duane Moody was up north and files the following report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
After two p.m. on Saturday, a pair of caneros came up on the body of a man about two hundred yards down the San Jomal Road near the Slaughterhouse in Corozal District. The man was later identified as forty-one-year-old Mark Anthony Clarke, an IT technician of Santa Elena Road in Corozal Town. Clarke’s body was lying face up with multiple stab wounds, some say up to forty punctures, to the abdomen and chest area and his throat was slit.
Joseph Myvett
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“Corozal police was called to the slaughterhouse area on the San Jomal Road, a few yards off the road, where they discovered the body of a male person later identified as Mark Anthony Clarke, forty-one years Belizean of a Santa Rita road address, Corozal town with multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen area. The scene was processed and the body was transported to the Corozal Hospital where it awaits a postmortem examination which will be conducted later today.”
But even as the scene was being processed, investigators would soon determine that Clarke was not butchered on location; but in fact killed elsewhere and his body dumped near the slaughterhouse. A search of several houses, including the rented property where Clarke lived in Corozal Town for almost three years would turn up nothing. But tonight, several persons are in custody, including his Honduran girlfriend with whom he lived for some time now. While neighbors say there were no signs of physical abuse, it is alleged that the woman foretold taking Clarke’s life, claiming that she was a victim of domestic abuse.
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Police investigation has since led to the detention of several persons, who were interviewed. They [police] conducted several house searches as well as vehicle searches and are following several other leads. Any information that the public can assist the police with at this point in time would be highly appreciated in order for us to conclude this investigation. So far no charges have been laid against anyone.”
Reporter
“We understood that police were possibly seeking the girlfriend of the deceased. Are you able to confirm or are you able to say whether or not you’ve been able to get in touch with the person to question the person?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Yes, this person is a part of the persons who are in detention pending this investigation.”
Reporter
“Are you able to say at this time…are police puzzled as to what happened with Mister Clarke or do you all have a general idea as to what happened?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“No, the thing is that we are following on several leads in relation to the investigation.”
Reporter
“Have police been able to determine what was the gentleman’s last few days alive, maybe hours?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Yes we have. More or less the police has visited several areas which it was determined he was prior to; at least the place where he was last scene, the police had that.”
While the police were unable to provide a motive for the murder of Clarke, it is known that he was last seen alive sometime around nine-thirty on Friday night at the casino at the northern border, a little over twelve hours before his mutilated body was discovered near the slaughterhouse. Duane Moody for News Five.
